Governor’s Council Candidate Richard Baker Calls on Incumbent Eileen Duff to Apologize for Anti-Catholic Remarks
WEST NEWBURY – Richard Baker, candidate for Governor’s Council in the 5th District, expressed outrage at Councillor Eileen Duff’s discriminatory comments against judicial nominee James Gavin Reardon Jr.
“The fact that Councillor Duff sought to apply a religious litmus test to a judicial nominee is beyond the pale. Her intolerant and hostile attitude toward the nominee’s religion is out-of-bounds, and represents exactly what’s wrong with our politics today. It’s time for a change. Councillor Duff should apologize to Catholics across Massachusetts, and all those who value religious tolerance in our state,” said Baker.
In the hearing, Duff assumed that Reardon is a Roman Catholic, without asking him his religion. She then assumed that his religious beliefs would interfere with his judgement.
“You don’t feel that your religious belief would interfere with your judgement on any of this?” Duff asked. “Because we’ve seen it on the U.S. Supreme Court actually interfere with people’s judgement.”
“With all due respect, we haven’t determined what my religious belief is,” Reardon replied.
Duff contended that Reardon had “shared with us that you’re Roman Catholic,” but Reardon said he doesn’t “believe I’ve shared that,” while allowing that he’d defended the Catholic Church.
“Are you Roman Catholic?” Duff asked.
“I’m not really going to get into what my religious beliefs are, respectfully,” Reardon replied.
Candidate Richard Baker continued, “Selecting judges for the Commonwealth is of critical importance. Lines of questioning like this demonstrate how unqualified our current Governor’s Councillor is, and why voters should demand change.
